Hi Everyone,

There were good views from the Miraflores webcam as Jim ND9M passed on his ship by this morning! If anyone's interested, here are some photos I grabbed:

http://kb5wia.blogspot.com/2011/03/photos-of-nd9mmms-panama-canal-transit.ht...

73 de Dave KB5WIA / CM88

On Tue, Mar 22, 2011 at 2:43 PM, Clary, James T, Civilian [email protected] wrote:

We should be crossing into FJ07 shortly, around 22/2300Z. I’ll be on the AO7 pass that rises locally at 22/2302Z, assuming AO7 is still in Mode B. We will be in FJ07 for three or four hours, so the VO52 pass at 23/0149Z should be good for that grid as well.

I expect to be on from FJ08:

FO29 – 23/0813Z

AO51 – 23/0853Z

FO29 – 23/0958Z (possibly)

AO51 – 23/1032Z (possibly)

My ship received our transit schedule for tomorrow. Traffic has to move slowly through the canal, so it will be an all-day transit. Barring high winds or bad weather, I’ll set up the step ladder satellite station on the flight deck and leave it in place all day.

1345Z / 0845 LT – Arrive Miraflores Locks (east side, right hand)

1450Z / 0950 LT – Depart Miraflores Locks

1535Z / 1035 LT – Arrive Pedro Miguel Locks (west side, left hand)

1620Z / 1135 LT – Depart Pedro Miguel Locks

1950Z / 1450 LT – Arrive Gatun Locks (east side, right hand)

2145Z / 1645 LT – Depart Gatun Locks

Evidently there are three sets of locks; I was only aware of two! I don’t know if the Pedro Miguel Locks has a web cam; probably not since these locks are immediately after the Miraflores Locks.

Looking at SatPC32, there’s a VO52 pass occurring shortly after we enter the Miraflores Locks and an FO29 pass as we hit the Gatun Locks. I should be able to make both passes; it would be fun operating on camera!

Also, we’ll cross into FJ09 at the Miraflores Locks, possibly during the VO52 pass at 23/1355Z.

73,

Jim, HP/ND9M / VQ9JC

Grid EJ97